Chapter 15: Black Panther Merkel Moves In

Hill looked up at the surroundings, indeed the power of the Magister was extremely formidable. The originally uneven mountain top, in just a short while, had been leveled into a plain within a hundred-mile radius.

Fran had asked Hill to summon Earth Elementals because Elemental Ore has a high resistance to magic and generally can only be detected through physical means. Other than Earth Elemental Spirits, a race born to interact with ores, anyone else wishing to find the Elemental Nodes within the ore would need to spend a lot of time.

Hill thought back to his certification as a mineral civil engineer and felt that perhaps it was a reason why he was more favored by the Earth Elementals.

Although he was also an Alchemist, he preferred creating devices. As for alchemy potions and the like, he would directly use the recipes to manufacture them. He never experimented with new formulas like Melanie, but he did enjoy making all kinds of fully automated alchemy production lines.

Hill sensed that his Earth Elementals had encountered Fran and the others.

Truth be told, the Elemental Spirits least liked interacting with mages. Mages would use Elemental Spirits by half-damaging them and bending them into submission. Their spirits were not summoned but bound. If these Earth Elementals were not summoned by Hill, they would have automatically disbanded back to the Elemental Realm upon seeing Fran. Hill directly let these uneasy Earth Elementals disband and return to the Elemental Realm.

If it weren't to help Fran with mining exploration, Hill wouldn't need to summon Earth Elementals from the Elemental Realm anymore. He knew Fran and Adrian wouldn't care about him knowing the locations of Elemental Nodes, but as generations passed, the two territories would inevitably split, and it was better not to leave any loopholes.

Adrian quickly came up and took Hill flying into the sky. The ground began to shake rapidly and trembled as it grew. Eventually, a 16-story Magic Tower rose from the ground.

The high Magic Tower kept changing materials, finally settling as obsidian. Hill, puzzled, looked on as the core of the Magic Tower would further enhance the material of the tower body. Obsidian was already known as the hardest stone. He had always thought Fran would use a metallic tower body. Until a rainbow-colored light beam shot straight into the clouds, Hill watched as the tower body transformed into a material he had never seen before.

He directly asked Adrian, "What kind of material is this? I've never seen it before."

Adrian replied, "Ore Crystal. This material generally only exists in the Elemental Realm. If it weren't for this hybrid ore-type Elemental Node, the teacher wouldn't be able to convert it. This material is mostly used by Legendary Mages."

Hill laughed and said, "It looks like I found a good place for Grandfather."

Adrian responded, "Teacher originally came just to take a look and planned to find a few more spots along the mountains.

I didn't expect that the leopard we encountered had hybrid ore, which is much more valuable than single-elemental ore.

The mine in the Saral Capital is a pure Gold Magic Ore. Pure Gold Element Crystal, with the accompanying ore being Mithril. Their Magic Tower is entirely made of Mithril.

You know how precious this kind of ore is, so you can imagine how large that mine must be. It is said that the node of that Elemental directly connects to the largest settlement of Gold Elemental Spirits.

If it weren't for several legendary figures, Saral wouldn't be able to keep this mine.

But to a powerful Alchemist like the teacher, this balanced hybrid ore is the most important. This is the kind of Elemental Node that Alchemists dream of, and it turns out that it's near your domain. Looks like our luck is finally turning.​

Hill cheerfully replied, "Nature loves me, it won't let me down."

Adrian sneered, "Of course, the Earth Bear is known as the Son of Earth, and elves are the daughters of nature. You possess the strengths of both, naturally the earth and nature will love you."

Hill squinted at him, "Do you have the guts to say that in front of Grandfather's face?"

Adrian couldn't help but laugh, "When the teacher found out about your lineage, he remained silent for a long time, never commenting on it. When he saw those Wood Elemental Spirits in your domain, he also didn't say a word. Even your Alice, the teacher didn't take her for analysis, he just walked by without looking."

Hill coldly replied, "I'm not discussing this with you, Uncle Adrian. If you want to die, it's none of my business."

Hill felt a vibration from the alchemy map in his pocket and quickly took it out to see: next to his Baron Polanio's domain, a newly marked land labeled Fran Magic Tower appeared.

The two quickly descended to the ground, and Fran soon appeared at the Magic Tower's entrance.

He told Adrian, "The puppet has been released. Take Hill back and bring over the Boen family as well."

Fran warned Hill, "Once you're back, focus on your training. Adrian will spend the next half month building a road to your domain's entrance, so stay in for now."

"Yes, Grandfather!" Hill respectfully replied.

Fran turned around and called out, "Diamant!"

A figure sparkling with white light appeared at the door: white hair, white eyes, ordinary features, with a cold and stern demeanor, dressed in a white magic robe.

Hill silently criticized: "Is this the Tower Spirit modeled after a diamond? It should at least look better."

Fran said to Diamant, "Hill can enter the Magic Tower. Remember his aura."

"Yes, Sir!"

Hill looked at the rigid Tower Spirit and secretly sympathized with Adrian. Once a Tower Spirit's personality is set, it can't be changed, and Adrian would have a headache in the future.

Adrian glanced at Hill, picked him up, and flew away.

It was a while before he spoke, "Don't think I don't know you're smirking."

Hill grinned, "Well, it won't be me dealing with Diamant in the future."

Adrian dismissed, "You being a magician who has to do things himself, don't worry about me. Once things are settled, I'll take on a few disciples. It's time I train my successors."

Hill laughed, "Uncle Adrian is very confident! Then help me take care of Boen. Just make sure he becomes a mage soon."

"I didn't expect that you care more about Boen!"

"Didn't you take good care of your previous playmates, Uncle Adrian?"

"So, why a mage? Wouldn't it be better to be a knight and a small noble?"

"Uncle Adrian, your playmates are just that, playmates. Boen is my only childhood friend."

"True! That family has been troublesome." Adrian admitted, "The teacher is great at everything, just doesn't care about mundane matters. His former disciples are always trying to push others away. How could great nobility let their children suffer that? When Melanie's incident happened, my family acted quickly to get me into his tutelage. Teacher suddenly decided to only take me as a disciple, and I was almost consumed by jealousy."

"Grandfather didn't want to deal with those matters anymore. He was satisfied with a good disciple, why bother with more."

"That's true!" said Adrian proudly, "When I became an Archmage, my family was ecstatic."

He ended with a scoff, "Not a bad return for all the money paid to the Temple of Knowledge!"

Hill truly respected the long-term vision of Adrian's family. Ever since they established themselves in Saral, generations had constantly purchased magic books from the Temple of Knowledge. Every child received magical enlightenment.

When Adrian showed outstanding magical talent, they didn't hesitate to spend a fortune to get him under Fran's guidance.

A Magister can live at least 800 years! The higher the rank, the larger the gap between knights and mages. A Legendary Knight can live for 8 or 900 years, but if not prodigiously talented, it's hard for knights to achieve longevity.

No matter how well-maintained, knights still have to train their bodies, and some injuries can affect them for life.

With an 800-year-old backer, Adrian's family didn't have to worry as much.

Adrian landed with Hill in front of the Magic Tower.

Alice soon appeared with Merkel.

"Hill, Merkel still prefers to live on the mountain."

Hill thought for a moment, "There's a section on the left side of the mountain wall near the entrance that doesn't need a magic array. He can live there and guard the gate!"

He took out the huge bundle and said helplessly, "You dug up so much, I'm embarrassed to face Grandfather!"

Merkel howled, and Alice helplessly explained, "Merkel believes if he hadn't guarded the mine, the mountain would have long been discovered. This is his reward for guarding it."

Adrian laughed, "Don't worry, neither the teacher nor I mind. Leave it for him as a nest."

Merkel nodded contentedly, took out ten high-level ores, placed them in front of Hill, then happily walked away with the bundle.

Alice quickly followed and said, "I'll watch him, won't let him touch the array!"

Hill waved in agreement.

His joy disappeared when he saw Boen standing at the door, his eyes red.

Seeing Boen's tearful eyes, Hill knew the family was finally leaving.

As a mother, Lina could always persuade her son.

His hesitant heart finally settled completely.

He had deliberately given Adrian the blueprint to slowly separate Boen from his family. Once Boen underwent rigorous training as a mage in Fran's tower, his feelings for his family would mature, and he wouldn't be hurt by their neglect.

He smiled at Boen and said, "Why cry! When you become a proper mage, come visit often. It won't even take an hour to fly down from the mountain."

Boen choked up and agreed.

Hill looked behind Boen at Locke and Lina and said, "Uncle Adrian will take you over, go pack your things! Grandfather's people will take half a month to arrive, it will be a tough time for you!"

They quickly agreed, and Lina expressed her reluctance to leave Hill before heading upstairs to pack.

Hill turned to Boen and said, "Keep a small ring for yourself. No need to tell your parents about it, so they don't complain. Give the rest to List."

Boen shook his head, "You keep them. I don't need them."

Adrian scoffed, "Don't be foolish. Hill wants you to have something without your parents knowing. You'll be living in the Apprentice Street, far from them, you don't need to tell them everything."

Hill quickly interrupted, "Uncle Adrian!"

Boen shook his head at Hill, "I understand! Mom and Dad favor the younger ones, that's normal. They're not bad to me. You don't need to worry."

Seeing Hill's worried face, Boen finally smiled, "You've always said I'm smart and a potential mage. I just hadn't noticed some things. Today they got anxious about me agreeing to leave, and they let slip a lot. I understand it's the best way. I'll keep a ring without telling them. Don't worry. I have my own path to walk now!"